PART TWO: Extract Selection and Composite

 

Note: The following tutorial explains the use of the Extract plugin which is not available in Photoshop CS5. As mentioned in the video tutorials, feel free to use any alternative methods in Photoshop CS5 to complete the project.
  Open the 2 image files, buffalo.jpg and rushmore.jpg. This time we will use the Extract Command and Layer Masking to composite the buffalo image onto the rushmore image. The Extract command along with Layer Masking allows for a bit more control of complicated edge detail when combining images.
1. Select the buffalo image and then select Filter>Extract. The Extract menu will open.
2.

Click on the Edge Highlighter tool (the first tool on the upper left) and set the brush size located on the right side under Tool Options. The default is 20 pixels> I would start with a 12 pixel brush size. I would change the Highlight color to red so that it will stand out against the green background while tracing (the default highlight color is green).
3. Next, trace around the perimeter of the buffalo image. VERY IMPORTANT that you start at the far left of the back of the buffalo and finish at the bottom middle.
CLICK here to see the tracing.
4. Click on the Fill Tool (the paint bucket). Then click inside the buffalo image. The image will turn a translucent blue, which will indicate the extraction area.
5. Click on the Preview button and look at the edges to see if there are any defects. You can use the touch up tool in the left tool menu bar to touch up. There is another method using a layer mask that I will explain next.
6.

Now zoom in on the buffalo image and carefully look for any remnant edge pixels. I am sure there will be some.
7. Select the buffalo image layer and then duplicate the layer by dragging the layer onto the new layer icon at the bottom of the palette. Then drag this layer underneath the original buffalo layer. Select all and fill this layer with a dark blue. This will allow you to see the remnant pixels.
8. Select the new buffalo layer again and apply a layer mask (second icon at the bottom of the layers palette).
 
9. Making sure that your foreground and background colors are black and white respectively, select a small brush, zoom in on the new buffalo layer and erase the remnant pixels.
10. When complete, throw the layer mask into the trash (the last icon on the right above).
Make sure that you click on Apply Mask selection.
11. Now Drag, or Select All and Copy>Paste the buffalo image onto the rushmore image. Align in the lower left.
12. As in the previous section, I would go to the background layer of the rushmore image and put a Gaussian Blur to create a better depth of field illusion.
  Done Deal! SAVE your file.
I would try it again from scratch and play with various options from the Extract menu on the buffalo image.